Chain element for pattern mechanism



1,692,989 E. R. HOLMES CHAIN ELEMENT FOR PATTERN MECHANISM Flled Dec 13, 1926 [m /riot I $02196 I? [fa/mes Nov. 27, 1928.

Patented Nov. 27, 1928.

were STATES TENT OFFICE.

ELIBRIDGE HOLMES, OF WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOB TO CROMPTON 8a KNOWLES LOOM VIORKS, OF WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF MASSACHUSETTS.

CHAIN ELEMENT FOR PATTERN MECHANISM.

Application filed December 13, 1926.

This invention relates to improvements in pattern mechanism for looms, and it is the general object of the invention to provide means for connecting successive bars of a pattern chain by means which shall be read ily removable when worn to permit renewal without requiring a new chain bar.

Loom controlling mechanisms frequently employ a pattern chain made up of a plurality of chain bars on which are arranged rolls of varying diameters to cooperate with levers or other devices connected to the harness or box mechanism of the loom. It has been the practice heretofore to connect these bars by means of links which lie against one of the small rolls of the pattern chain. It is found that this construction results in wearing of the ends of the chain bars and it is an important object of my present invention to provide a sleeve which may be slipped over each end of each chain bar to protect the latter, the chain links having engagement with the sleeve and not with the bar.

It is a further object of my invention to provide a sleeve of the type specified which shall have a shoulder formed thereon to keep the chain links spaced from the actuating sprockets or cylinders.

It is a more particular object of my inven tion to provide a sleeve as set forth which shall be held against rotation relatively to the chain bar to prevent wear between the sleeve and bar.

With these and other objects which will appear as the description proceeds, my 1nvention resides in the combinations and arrangements of parts hereinafter set forth and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, wherein a convenient embodiment of my invention is shown:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a portion of a loom having my improved chain applied thereto,

Fig. 2 shows a portion of a chain having my improvements incorporated therein, looking in the direction of arrow 2, Fig. 1,

Fig. 3 is an enlarged vertical section on line 38 of Fig. 2, and

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of one of the sleeves.

In order to illustrate how my invention may be used, I have shown the same in conthe vibrator gears.

Serial No. 154,392.

neetion with the well known Knowles head. Referring to Fig. 1, the loom arch 10 has secured thereto a head frame 11 having upper and lower oppositively and constantly rotating mutilated cylinders 12 and 13, respectively, driven by mechanism not shown. A series of lifting levers, one of which is indicated at 14, are pivoted on a pin 15 and have attachment with vibrator connectors one of which is indicated at 16. Each connector is pivoted to a vibrator gear 17 which oscillates on a vibrator lever 18. Drop weights 19 may be employed with the vibrator connectors to insure proper and complete movement of Said vibrator levers 18 move about a heel pin 20 and are restrained against upward movement by a shell 21. A pattern chain indicated generally at C determines the order in which the vibrator gears shall be raised or lowered, the movements of the levers 14 depending upon the positions of the corresponding vibrator gears.

The pattern chain is for the most part formed in the usual manner and has a series of chain bars 22 on which are mounted large and small chain elements 23 and 24, respectively, which cooperate with the vibrator levers. A chain cylinder 25 is driven in timed relation to the cylinders 12 and 13 and acts to present a new chain bar under the vibrator levers for every pick of the. loom or for every other pick of the loom, depending upon the type of loom. The several bars 22 may be connected together by chain links 26 which except for the size of holes therein, are the same as those usually employed.

In. carrying my invention into effect I omit the usual small roll 24 customarily mounted on bars to engage the cylinder 25 and in place thereof substitute a sleeve of the form shown more particularly in Figs. 3 and 4. Said sleeve has a. hollow cylindrical body 40 between the ends of which is formed an integral rib 41. The exterior diameter of the left hand portion of the sleeve is the same as the exterior diameter of the smaller rolls 24 and it is this portion of the sleeves which engages the eylinder 25. The outer or right hand portion of the sleeve lying on the opposite side of the rib 41 is preferably of the same diameter as the first named portion of the sleeve, though not necessarily, and this second portion has extending thereto aligned but also with the links 26.

be seen that barsQQ which are usually made of 'relativelysoft material, are at all times not only out of contact with the cylinder The purpose of having thepin 43 extendthrough the bar and sleeve is to prevent the latter from rotating on the bar to cause'vvear, but I do not Wish to be heldto this construction, as it will sullice for certain purposes of the invention to have the cotter pin 43 serve merely to prevent endwise movement of the sleeve relatively to the bar on which it is mounted.

From the foregoing it will be seen that I have provided a very simple chain element which holds the chain bars from cont-acting with the. driving cylinder and the connecting links to prevent undue wear of said bars. It wlll further be seen that the rib l1 spaces the links 26 from the cylinder and it will also be seen that the cotter pin 48 can be employed to prevent relative movementboth longitudinallyand angularly between the sleeve and the supporting bar thereof.

Having thus described my invention it will be apparent that changes and modifications may be made therein by those skilled in the art Without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, and I do not wish to be limited to the details herein disclosed but what I claim is: V

1. In a pattern mechanisn'i for looms, a chain cylinder, a pattern chain comprising a plurality of bars, a sleeve for each end of each bar to engage the cylinder, each sleeve being held against angular and longitudinal movement relatively to the corresponding bar, connecting links having contact With adjacent sleeves, and means defining a shoulder on the sleeve located between the cylinder and the linksto space said links from thecylinder. V

2. In a pattern mechanism for looms, a

pattern cylin ler, a pattern chain comprising a plurality of bars, a sleeve fitted over each end of each bar to have engagement'with the cylinder, links connecting adjacent bars having contact with each sleeve, and means to prevent longitudinal and angularmovement of said sleeve relatively to the bar.

3. In a pattern mechanism for looms, a pattern cylinder, a pattern chain for the cylinder formed with a plurality of chain bars, connecting links for the bars, cylindrical means mounted on and removable from the bars and interposed between the bars and the links and means to prevent angular and longitudinal movement between the chain bars and the cylindrical means.

In testimony whereof I have. hereunto affixed my signature.

ELBRIDGE R. HOLMES, 

